JP2006263693A - Mechanism and device for continuously separating particulates - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To continuously and accurately separate particles of a synthetic polymer, inorganic powder, metal powder, animal and plant cells, microbes and emulsion, etc., even in the case that particle sizes are close. <P>SOLUTION: Fluid 100P containing the particles and fluid 100N not containing the particles are introduced from entrances 22a and 22b, and the width of the fluid 100P at a part 27 is made smaller than the particle size of the minimum particle to be a separation object simultaneously. Thus, the position of the particle in a direction vertical to a flow is fixed depending on the size of the particle in the part 27, only the flow in an area where the center position of the particle exists is efficiently distributed to respective exit flow paths, and thus even the particles of the close particle sizes are separated. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

The present invention relates to a continuous particle separation mechanism and an apparatus therefor, and more particularly, suitable for use in the continuous classification of particles such as synthetic polymers, inorganic powders, metal powders, animal and plant cells, microorganisms, and emulsions. The present invention relates to a continuous particle separation mechanism and an apparatus therefor.

In general, technologies for classifying particles such as synthetic polymers, inorganic powders, metal powders, plant and animal cells, microorganisms, and emulsions are specified not only in basic research but also in the powder industry, electronics industry, food industry, pharmaceutical industry, etc. It is recognized as important in a wide range of fields such as selection of large particles and analysis of particle size distribution.

Examples of conventional techniques for classifying particles include, for example, a classification method using a liquid cyclone, a classification method using chromatography, a classification method using field flow fractionation, or pinched flow fractionation (see, for example, Non-Patent Document 1). The classification method by is known.
M.M. Yamada, M .; Nakashima, and M.M. Seki, Anal. Chem. 76, 5465-5471 (2004)

However, the classification method using a liquid cyclone can process a large amount at a time, but has problems such as low classification accuracy, difficulty in classifying particles having a very small particle size, and continuous processing.

In addition, the classification method using chromatography and field flow fractionation has high classification accuracy and is compatible with particles with a particle size of 1 micrometer or less. There are problems that separation takes a long time, the amount that can be processed at one time is small, and continuous processing cannot be performed.

In addition, the classification method using pinch flow fractionation also supports particles with a particle size of about 1 micrometer, and by introducing particles continuously, classification can be performed quickly and in large quantities, but the particle size is close. There was a problem that it was difficult to separate the particles.

The present invention has been made in view of various problems as described above in the prior art, and the object thereof is synthetic polymer, inorganic powder, metal powder, animal and plant cell, When classifying particles such as microorganisms and emulsions, an attempt is made to provide a continuous particle separation mechanism and apparatus capable of continuously processing a large amount with high classification accuracy and classifying particles having a close particle size. Is.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention introduces a fluid from a plurality of branches into a single flow path, controls the center position of particles in a direction perpendicular to the flow, and controls the plurality of branches according to the difference in the center position. It was made by paying attention to the fact that particles can be efficiently separated by controlling the flow rate distributed to each outlet branch when separating and introducing the particles.

The features and effects of the present invention will be described below.

First, in order to introduce a fluid containing particles and a fluid not containing particles into the flow channel, the flow channel needs to have a plurality of branches at the inlet.

Further, in order to separate particles according to the difference in particle size and collect them separately, the flow path needs to have a plurality of branches at the outlet.

In the invention according to claim 1 of the present invention, both ends of the flow path X are branched into a plurality of branches, each of which has a plurality of branch flow paths that lead to different inlets, and from the other end. Using a flow path structure having a plurality of branch flow paths connected to different outlets, a fluid containing fine particles is introduced from at least one of the inlets, and at least one of the inlets By introducing a fluid that does not contain fine particles from the inlet and adjusting the flow rate of the introduced fluid, the fine particles are arranged on the wall surface of the flow channel X, and the difference in the center position of the particles due to the difference in particle size is caused. In this case, the particles are separated and introduced into the plurality of branch channels connected to the different outlets, and at least one of the plurality of branch channels connected to the different outlets at that time But distributed The flow rate is different from other flow paths, so that the difference in the center position of the particles is efficiently amplified, and the particles are separated and introduced into the branch flow paths connected to different outlets depending on the difference in particle size. .

Further, the invention according to claim 2 of the present invention is the continuous particle separation mechanism and device thereof according to claim 1, wherein the flow rate to be distributed is different from other flow channels as the flow channel width, It is characterized by having at least one or more channels different from the plurality of branch channels connected to other outlets in depth, length, and the like.

Therefore, according to the second aspect of the present invention, the flow rate distributed to each outlet branch can be changed easily and greatly.

Further, the invention according to claim 3 of the present invention is the continuous particle separation mechanism and apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the flow rate to be distributed is different from other flow channels as the flow path inside or the flow path. It is characterized by having at least one flow path having an adjustable valve downstream.

Therefore, according to the invention described in claim 3 of the present invention, by controlling the valve, the flow rate distributed to each flow path when performing the classification operation can be controlled. Recovery can be performed more accurately.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the continuous particle separation mechanism and the apparatus thereof according to the first aspect, the flow rate to be distributed is a flow path different from the other flow paths, and the fluid is provided inside the flow path. It is characterized by having at least one flow path having a branch flow path Z that can introduce or discharge.

Therefore, according to the invention described in claim 4 of the present invention, by introducing or discharging the fluid from the branch flow path Z, the flow rate distributed to each flow path when performing the classification operation is reduced. It is possible to control the particle classification and collection more accurately.

The invention according to claim 5 of the present invention is the continuous particle separation mechanism and apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the flow rate to be distributed is different from other flow channels, and the temperature of the flow channel is set. It is characterized by having at least one channel that can control the viscosity of the fluid in the channel by controlling.

Therefore, according to the invention described in claim 5 of the present invention, by controlling the temperature, it is possible to control the flow rate distributed to each flow path when performing the classification operation. Recovery can be performed more accurately.

The invention according to claim 6 of the present invention is the continuous particle separation mechanism according to claim 1 and the apparatus thereof, wherein the continuous particles according to claim 2, claim 3, claim 4 and claim 5 are used. It is characterized by arbitrarily combining at least two of the separation mechanism and its device.

The invention according to claim 7 of the present invention is the continuous particle separation mechanism according to any one of claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. In the apparatus, any one of the scales such as the width, depth, and diameter of the flow path is on the order of centimeters or less, and the fluid flows in the flow path while maintaining a stable laminar flow. .

Therefore, according to the seventh aspect of the present invention, each of the introduced fluids flows while maintaining a stable laminar flow, so that the position of the particles can be controlled more stably, and the classification and recovery of the particles. Can be performed more accurately.

The invention according to claim 8 is the invention according to any one of claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7. In the continuous particle separation mechanism and its apparatus, a liquid is used as a fluid to be introduced.

Therefore, according to the invention described in claim 8 of the present invention, it is possible to classify particles suspended in a liquid, such as cells and emulsions.

The invention according to claim 9 is the invention according to any one of claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7. The continuous particle separation mechanism and the apparatus thereof are characterized by using gas as the fluid to be introduced.

Therefore, according to the ninth aspect of the present invention, classification can be performed without suspending particles in a liquid.

In addition, the invention described in claim 10 of the present invention is described in claim 1, claim 2, claim 3, claim 4, claim 5, claim 7, claim 8, claim 9 and claim 9. In the continuous particle separation mechanism and the apparatus thereof according to any one of the above, by connecting a plurality of the flow channel structures having different scales among the width, depth, diameter, and the like of the flow channel X in series. It is characterized by classifying in multiple stages.

Therefore, according to the invention described in claim 10 of the present invention, it is possible to classify with high accuracy even when classifying particles having a wide particle size distribution.

Further, among the present inventions, the invention described in claim 11 is the invention described in claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. And a continuous particle separation mechanism and apparatus thereof according to any one of claims 10 and 10, wherein the flow path structure is a channel formed in a microchip.

Therefore, according to the invention described in claim 11 of the present invention, the shape of the flow path can be accurately controlled, and the multi-stage and parallel arrangement of the flow paths are facilitated. , Improvement in throughput can be expected.

According to the invention described in claim 11 of the present invention, since the scale of the flow path is on the order of nanometers to micrometers, it is possible to accurately separate very fine particles.

The invention described in claim 12 of the present invention is characterized in that, in the continuous particle separation mechanism and apparatus thereof described in claim 11, the valve described in claim 3 is a micro membrane valve.

Therefore, according to the invention of the twelfth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to easily produce and control the valve.

The best mode of the continuous particle separation mechanism and the apparatus according to the present invention will be described below based on the attached documents.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a flow path structure as the best mode of a continuous particle separation mechanism and apparatus according to the present invention.

One end of the flow path structure 11 has two branches (branches 14a and 14b), and the other end has five branches (branches 15a, 15b, 15c, 15d, and 15e). Although it is connected to the fluid inlet and outlet, the larger the number of outlet branches, the more precise the classification becomes possible, and the number can be determined as required. The width, depth, and length of the flow path It is also possible to set an arbitrary value as necessary.

The fluid 100Q and the fluid 100R are a fluid containing particles and a fluid not containing particles, respectively, and the particles 200a, 200b, and 200c are relatively large particles, medium particles, and small particles, respectively. Yes.

Here, by introducing a fluid containing particles from the branch 14a side, introducing a fluid not containing particles from the 14b side, and adjusting the flow rate of the introduced fluid, the position of the particles in the direction perpendicular to the flow in the portion 17 is obtained. Is controlled by the particle size.

At this time, by designing the flow of the region where the particle center position does not exist in the portion 17 to be distributed to the branch 15e by the method according to claim 2, the region where the particle center position exists is designed. Can be efficiently distributed to the remaining branches (branches 15a, 15b, 15c, 15d), so that particles having a close particle diameter can be separated.

Further, by providing at least the continuous particle separation mechanism and the apparatus according to any one of claims 3, 4 and 5 in the branches 15a, 15b, 15c and 15d, the distributed flow is classified. The fine particles can be finely adjusted during the operation, and the particles can be more accurately classified and taken out separately according to the difference in particle diameter.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the continuous particle separation mechanism and the apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail based on the attached documents.

2 (a), 2 (b) and 2 (c) show a microchip 20 having an embodiment of a continuous particle separation mechanism and apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 (b) is shown in FIG. 2 (a). FIG. 2C is an enlarged view of a portion B in FIG. 2B.

The microchip 20 is a microchip for separating particles according to the size thereof. For example, a channel structure 21 is formed on one surface of a polymer substrate such as PDMS (polydimethylsiloxane), and the channel The flow path structure is formed by bonding a surface on which the structure 21 is formed and a flat substrate.

The depth of the channel structure 21 is about 20 μm, but this value can be set to any value from 100 nm to 1 cm.

The flow path structure 21 has inlet-side ports 22a and 22b and outlet-side ports 23a, 23b, 23c, 23d, 23e, 23f, 23g, 23h, 23i, 23j, 23k, 231 and 23m, and the inlet-side port 22a , 22b are inlets for fluid containing particles and fluids not containing particles, respectively, and outlet ports 23a, 23b, 23c, 23d, 23e, 23f, 23g, 23h, 23i, 23j, 23k, 231 and 23m are fluids. Is the exit.

In addition, one end of the flow path structure 21 has two branches (branches 24a and 24b), and the other end has 13 branches (branches 25a, 25b, 25c, 25d, 25e, 25f, and 25g). 25h, 25i, 25j, 25k, 25l, 25m) followed by 12 flow paths (flow paths 26a, 26b, 26c, 26d, 26e, 26f, 26g, 26h, 26i, 26j, 26k, 26l) ing.

Here, the branches 24a and 24b are connected to the inlet ports 22a and 22b, respectively, and the branches 25a, 25b, 25c, 25d, 25e, 25f, 25g, 25h, 25i, 25j, 25k, and 25l are respectively 26a, 26b, 26c, 26d, 26e, 26f, 26g, 26h, 26i, 26j, 26k, 26l, and exit ports 23a, 23b, 23c, 23d, 23e, 23f, 23g, 23h, 23i, 23j, 23k, The branch 25m is connected to the outlet side port 23m.

The total length of the flow path structure 21, that is, the length from one end of the inlet side ports 22a and 22b to the end of the outlet side port 23g is 21 mm, and the length of the portion 27 is 100 μm. Yes, the length of the branches 25a, 25b, 25c, 25d, 25e, 25f, 25g, 25h, 25i, 25j, 25k, 251 is 3 mm, the length of the branch 25m is 1.5 mm, the flow path 26a, Although the length of 26b, 26c, 26d, 26e, 26f, 26g, 26h, 26i, 26j, 26k, and 26l is 10.6 mm, these values can be set to arbitrary values of 1 μm or more. .

Further, the width of the portion 27 is 20 μm, the widths of the branches 25a, 25b, 25c, 25d, 25e, 25f, 25g, 25h, 25i, 25j, 25k, 25l, and 25m are 200 μm, and the flow paths 26a, 26b, Although the widths of 26c, 26d, 26e, 26f, 26g, 26h, 26i, 26j, 26k, and 26l are 50 μm, these values can be set to arbitrary values of 100 nm or more, respectively.

The widths of the branches 24a and 24b are 100 μm, but these values can be set to arbitrary values of 100 nm or more, respectively.

In this embodiment, the number of exit branches is 13. However, the more exit branches, the more precise classification is possible, and the number of branches can be set to an arbitrary value.

In the above configuration, a continuous particle separation mechanism and apparatus for separating particles such as synthetic polymer, inorganic powder, metal powder, animal and plant cells, microorganisms, and emulsion using the above-described microchip 20 will be described.

The particles introduced into the flow channel structure 21 move in the downstream direction along with the fluid flow. At this time, the flow rate of the fluid introduced from the two inlet ports 22a and 22b is appropriately adjusted, thereby the flow channel. In the part 27 in the structure 21, the position of the particles in the direction perpendicular to the flow can be controlled by the size of the particles.

Below, the mechanism which controls the position of particle | grains is demonstrated using FIG.2 (c). Here, the fluid 100P and the fluid 100N indicated by oblique lines are a fluid containing particles and a fluid not containing particles, respectively, and the particles 200d and 200e are relatively large particles and relatively small particles, respectively. ing.

First, the fluid 100P including particles and the fluid 100N not including particles are continuously supplied from the two inlet ports 22a and 22b using a syringe pump or the like. At this time, each fluid flows in the channel structure 21 while maintaining a stable laminar flow.

Then, by adjusting the flow rates of the fluid 100P containing particles and the fluid 100N not containing particles, the width of the fluid 100P in the portion 27 is made smaller than the particle size of the smallest particles to be separated. By this operation, all the particles to be separated flow along one wall 27a in the portion 27, and the position of the particles in the direction perpendicular to the flow in the portion 27 is made constant according to the size of the particles. be able to.

And when the flow in the portion 27 is distributed to the branches 25a, 25b, 25c, 25d, 25e, 25f, 25g, 25h, 25i, 25j, 25k, 25l, 25m, the particles become the flow in which the center position exists. Ride on each branch to be introduced.

Since the flow path structure 21 is designed so that 80% of the flow on the wall 27b side where the center position of the particle does not exist flows to 25 m, the remaining 20% flow where the particle center position exists is branched 25a, Since the particles are distributed to 25b, 25c, 25d, 25e, 25f, 25g, 25h, 25i, 25j, 25k, and 25l, it is possible to separate particles having similar particle diameters.

Actually, this microchip 20 was used, and a 0.5 wt% Tween 80 aqueous solution was used as a fluid, and a polystyrene-divinylbenzene bead mixture having a diameter of 1.0 μm and 2.1 μm was successfully classified.

In addition, it has succeeded in separating blood cells from blood and separating yeast and E. coli.

The flow path structure 21 including the embodiment of the continuous particle separation mechanism and the apparatus described above is the continuous particle separation mechanism and the apparatus according to claim 2, but of course is not limited thereto. FIG. 3 (a) and FIG. 3 (b) show a combination of the continuous particle separation mechanism according to claims 2 and 3 and the apparatus thereof.

3 (a) and 3 (b) show a microchip 30 equipped with an embodiment of a continuous particle separation mechanism and apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. 3 (b) shows the C in FIG. 3 (a). It is sectional drawing by -C line | wire.

The microchip 30 is a microchip for separating particles according to the size thereof, and, for example, a channel structure 31a is formed on a lower surface 38a of a polymer substrate 38 such as PDMS (polydimethylsiloxane). A flow path 31b is formed on the upper surface 39a of the substrate 39, and the substrate 38a and the substrate 39a are bonded to each other through a polymer thin film 300 such as PDMS (polydimethylsiloxane).

The depth of the flow path structure 31a is about 15 μm, and the depth of the flow path structure 31b is about 35 μm, but this value can be set to any value from 100 nm to 1 cm.

The flow channel structure 31a includes inlet-side ports 32a and 32b and outlet-side ports 33a, 33b, and 33c. The inlet-side ports 32a and 32b are inlets for fluids that include particles and fluids that do not include particles, respectively. The outlet ports 33a, 33b, and 33c are fluid outlets.

In addition, one end of the flow path structure 31a has two branches (branches 34a and 34b), and the other end has three branches (branches 35a, 35b and 35c).

Here, the branches 34a and 34b are connected to the inlet ports 32a and 32b, respectively, and the branches 35a, 35b and 35c are connected to the outlet ports 33a, 33b and 33c, respectively.

The entire length of the flow path structure 31a, that is, the length from one end of the inlet side ports 32a and 32b to the end of the outlet side port 33b is 20.3 mm, and the length of the portion 37 is The length of the branches 35a and 35b is 12 mm, and the length of the branch 35c is 5 mm. These values can be set to arbitrary values of 1 μm or more.

Further, the width of the portion 37 is 20 μm, the width of the branches 35 a and 35 b is 100 μm, and the width of the branch 35 c is 200 μm. These values can be set to arbitrary values of 100 nm or more, respectively. is there.

The widths of the branches 34a and 34b are 50 μm, but these values can be set to arbitrary values of 100 nm or more, respectively.

In addition, one end of the flow path structure 31b is connected to the port 32c, and the other end is closed.

The width of the channel structure 31b is 300 μm, but this value can be set to an arbitrary value of 100 nm or more.

Further, a part of the branch 35 a and a part of the flow channel structure 31 b overlap with each other through the membrane 300.

Here, by controlling the pressure from the port 32c, the portion of the membrane 300 sandwiched between the flow path 35a and the flow path structure 31b moves up and down, and the flow rate flowing to the branch 35a can be controlled.

This makes it possible to finely adjust the flow rate flowing through the branch flow paths connected to the respective outlets, and facilitates recovery of the particles separately depending on the difference in particle size.

Actually, this microchip 30 was used, and a 0.5 wt% Tween 80 aqueous solution was used as a fluid, and a polystyrene-divinylbenzene bead mixture having a diameter of 1.0 μm and 5.0 μm was successfully classified.

The microchip 30 provided with the embodiment of the continuous particle separation mechanism and the device thereof according to the above invention is a combination of the continuous particle separation mechanism and the device according to claim 2 and claim 3, but the number of outlets and valves. Can be set arbitrarily.

In the microchips 20 and 30 equipped with the embodiment of the continuous particle separation mechanism and the apparatus according to the invention described above, the maximum diameter of the particles to be separated is not smaller than the width of the portion 27 and the portion 37 in FIGS. However, it is possible to classify particles of any size, for example, from 1 nanometer to 1 centimeter by changing their width according to the diameter of the target particles to be classified.

In addition, when the particle size distribution of the particle group to be separated is wide, the particles recovered from the plurality of outlet-side ports after being classified, and subsequently the widths of the portions 27 and 37 in FIGS. What is necessary is just to introduce into the changed flow path and to perform further classification.

Furthermore, since the classification processing amount is proportional to the number of flow paths, the same type of flow paths may be arranged in parallel for the purpose of mass processing, and in the case where the flow path is a microchannel formed on a microchip. Can easily parallelize a large number of the same type of channels on one microchip.

In addition to this, particles of any size can be classified as long as the maximum diameter of the particles to be classified is equal to or smaller than the widths of the portions 27 and 37 in FIGS.

In addition, any liquid or gas can be used as the fluid in which the particles are suspended.

Note that the fluid containing particles and the fluid not containing particles may be composed of the same fluid, or may be composed of two or more different fluids.

It is a schematic diagram which shows the best form of the continuous particle separation mechanism by this invention, and its apparatus. 2 shows a microchip 20 equipped with a continuous particle separation mechanism and apparatus according to the present invention, wherein (b) is an enlarged view of a portion A in (a), and (c) is an enlarged view of a portion B in (b). . The microchip 30 provided with the continuous particle separation mechanism and its apparatus by this invention is shown, (b) is sectional drawing by CC line in (a).

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Channel structure 14a-14b Inlet side branch 15a-15e Outlet side branch 17 Port 11 part 20 Microchip 21 Channel structure 22a-22b Inlet side port 23a-23m Outlet side port 24a-24b Inlet side branch 25a-25m Outlet side branch 26a to 26l Outlet side channel 27 Portion of channel 21 27a to 27b Inner wall of portion 27 30 Microchip 31a Channel structure 31b Channel structure 32a to 32b Inlet side port 33a to 33c Outlet side port 34a to 34b Inlet Side branch 35a-35c Outlet side branch 37 Part of flow path 31a 38 Substrate 38a Substrate 38 lower surface 39 Substrate 39a Substrate 39 upper surface 100Q Fluid 100R Fluid 100P Fluid 100N Fluid 200a-e Particle 300 Membrane

Claims (12)

Both ends of the flow path X are branched into a plurality, each having a plurality of branch flow paths connected to different inlets from one end, and a plurality of branch flow paths connected to different outlets from the other end. Using the channel structure, a fluid containing fine particles is introduced from at least one of the inlets, and a fluid not containing fine particles is introduced from at least one of the inlets. By adjusting the flow rate of each fluid, the fine particles are arranged on the wall surface of the channel in the channel X, and the difference in the center position of the particles due to the difference in particle size is generated, so that a plurality of branch flows connected to the respective different outlets. Particles are separated and introduced into a channel, and at this time, at least one of the plurality of branch channels connected to the different outlets is different in flow rate from other channels. By the matter The difference between the center position of the particles is efficiently amplified, continuous particle separation mechanism and a device for introducing separating the branch flow path leading to the separate outlets particles by differences in particle size. The continuous particle separation mechanism and apparatus thereof according to claim 1, wherein a flow rate to be distributed is different from other flow channels, and a plurality of branches in which the width, depth, length, etc. of the flow channels are connected to other outlets A continuous particle separation mechanism having at least one flow path different from the flow path and an apparatus therefor. The continuous particle separation mechanism and apparatus therefor according to claim 1, wherein the flow rate to be distributed is different from other flow channels, and at least one flow channel having an adjustable valve inside or downstream of the flow channel. A continuous particle separation mechanism and apparatus characterized by having the above. The continuous particle separation mechanism and apparatus thereof according to claim 1, wherein the flow rate to be distributed is a flow channel having a branch flow path Z that can introduce or discharge a fluid into the flow path as a flow path different from other flow paths. A continuous particle separation mechanism having at least one passage and an apparatus therefor. The continuous particle separation mechanism and apparatus thereof according to claim 1, wherein the viscosity of the fluid in the flow path can be controlled by controlling the temperature of the flow path as a flow path to be distributed different from other flow paths. A continuous particle separation mechanism and apparatus therefor having at least one flow path. The continuous particle separation mechanism and apparatus thereof according to claim 1, wherein at least two of the continuous particle separation mechanism and apparatus thereof according to claim 2, claim 3, claim 4 and claim 5 are arbitrarily selected. Continuous particle separation mechanism and apparatus characterized by combination. The continuous particle separation mechanism and apparatus thereof according to any one of claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, wherein the flow path has a width, a depth, and a diameter. A continuous particle separation mechanism and apparatus therefor, wherein any one of the scales is in the order of centimeters or less and the fluid flows while maintaining a stable laminar flow in the flow path. The continuous particle separation mechanism and the apparatus thereof according to any one of claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7, wherein a liquid is introduced as a fluid to be introduced A continuous particle separation mechanism characterized by using The continuous particle separation mechanism and the apparatus thereof according to any one of claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7, wherein gas is introduced as a fluid to be introduced. A continuous particle separation mechanism characterized by using The continuous particle separation mechanism and the apparatus according to any one of claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9. In the above, continuous particles characterized in that classification is performed in multiple stages by connecting a plurality of the above-mentioned channel structures having different scales among the width, depth, diameter, etc. of the channel X in series. Separation mechanism and apparatus. Continuous particle separation according to any one of claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10. In the mechanism and the apparatus thereof, the continuous particle separation mechanism and the apparatus thereof, wherein the channel structure is a channel formed in a microchip. The continuous particle separation mechanism and apparatus thereof according to claim 11, wherein the valve according to claim 3 is a micro membrane valve.